Dear Friends and Family:
I want to invite you into a story that God has been writing for some
time.
To be
honest I don’t even know how and where to start, but I want to share with you
some new things that God has been doing in my life, so let’s begin at the beginning.
When
you posture yourself with open hands, be prepared for God to take you on an
unexpected journey.
A few
years ago I had a strong desire to leave the United States to go and explore a
different country and see where my creativity would take me. However, every
time I explored an opportunity the door would close and my fist would close
tighter. Around the high point of my disappointment and frustration I sensed
God was saying that I should stay in Fullerton. At first, this was
discouraging, but over the next couple of years it couldn’t have been any
clearer why having to stay was necessary. I was able to finish college. I was
able to intern with an amazing leader and mentor. I became grounded in life.
And later I started on staff at RH Fullerton. I could have never dreamt that I
would get to serve such an incredible community.
Recently,
I had the honor of going on a humanitarian trip to India with one of
ROCKHARBOR’s global partners, Harvest India. For 6 years my heart has always
loved and longed to go to India, and yet I wasn’t able to go there. Every time
I tried, each opportunity was met with a ‘NO’ attached the end of it.
So
this last year, when I recognized another stirring to go to India, I timidly
applied for the RH trip with open hands and an open heart. I was shocked to
finally hear the ‘YES‘ that I had been longing for as I was asked to join the
team. Needless to say, I was thrilled with anticipation. As I prepared for the
trip (late December), I couldn’t help but be in awe of God’s provision
financially, but also the community/family that had rallied around me.
Before
I left for my trip I had gone to an event to support Remnant Uganda and many
other awesome organizations (Krochet Kids, 31 Bits, iSanctuary & more) that
are creatively bringing justice, healing, education, and fair wages to people
all over the world. That night I had the opportunity to chat with one of the
staff members of the non-profit organization iSanctuary (International
Sanctuary). This organization works with women in India who have been
victimized by human trafficking, helping them reintegrate into society by
teaching them the craft of jewelry making, paying them fair wages, and giving
them education and value. I left that conversation even more excited for my upcoming
trip to India.
I
also left that night feeling like I had received a missing puzzle
piece
that I had been looking for. It was the most
unexpected feeling, but one I had tucked away
knowing in my heart that one day this conversation or ‘puzzle piece’ would make
sense.
Thanks
to good ole social media I actually have the status from that night that I
wrote on December 1st.
“You know when God keeps giving you puzzle pieces and you have
no clue what they mean or are for and yet you hold on tight to them because one
day you know they will make sense?! Yup.
Puzzling.”
I
left for India the day after Christmas. I surrendered many of the expectations
that I had put on this long awaited journey. This allowed me to be present with
my team, with the ministries that we visited and the culture we were in. God
was very gentle and quiet in the ways he spoke to me while in India;
consequently, I felt at home, myself, comfortable in India. My team would joke
with me that I was an Indian woman at heart. I was pulling out bangles,
earrings, and accessories left and right for my fellow team ladies. I applied
Henna on anyone who came near me. And I couldn’t stop smiling everywhere we
went; the people of India were so beautiful. Not to say that it was easy or
that everything was dreamy, but I had found a large part of me that felt at
home.
One
night on the bus ride home from one of our events, I had a conversation with a
friend. All we talked about was how we wouldn’t be surprised if we came back to
India one day for a longer period of time. And since I had waited, what had
felt like ages to finally visit India, I had no real expectations that it would
be any time soon. As I returned home from the trip I found an email from
iSanctuary saying they were hosting a pop up shop in Fullerton and wanted to
see if I wanted to show my art work during their 3 day event. While at that
event I had the same staff member mention to me that she thought I might be a
good fit for a position that they were looking to fill.
From
that point I approached this opportunity with open hands. They were looking for
a Jewelry Design intern that would live in India for a year. It truly took me
by surprise but the opportunity sounded like one worth pursing. I approached my
family & mentors with the opportunity. They joined me in praying/seeking if
this was a good fit and next best right step. After consulting the staff I
applied for the position.
It
wasn’t a step that I took lightly but there is no way I could have ever decided
to apply without the support of the people I work with, family, friends and mentors. I
recently was given the news that I was accepted and will be moving to India to
serve with iSanctuary in January 2014.
A
dream that I remember sharing during one of those late night dorm room talks
with roommates about aspirations, dreams and all the other things a freshman in
college talks about was actually coming true. This country that I have adored
for years, and a next step that I couldn’t have even have imagined was right in
front of me.
This wasn’t something
I decided swiftly but a call that I explored obediently. I remember praying
that if God was ever to call me out of my community, comfort, current job it would have to be
something I couldn’t deny that He was leading me towards. A prayer that I have
seen answered.
Can't wait to share more with you all over the next few months.